Thread-controlling mechanism for sewing machines



J. BERGER THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 31. 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet i (fiat,- 13,1925. 1351x135 ifiElRGER THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filfid my 31. 192.1 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 .J. BERGER THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 31. 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 1,557,135 J. BERGER THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed MM? 31. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet L "lllllll J. Esmmm THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES flash 113, 39235- Film! m 131. 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet Qfifi 13, @925- J. BERGER THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet Film my 31. 1921 I J. THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filfid may 31. 1%} 7 Sheets-Sheet you eye to a w e it it. it his l d 503131 11 BElRGrER, Q1 U'lPIE'A, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'it) UI'TI'ON SZ P'EWLAL MACHlilll'fil {Whit- FANY, 335' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A UORPORATlON 0F ILLIlYl'il-Itil.

THREAD-@ONTROLLING- llitEflHANISM FQIt S'E'W'KNG' l'tlfiUX-IIN'EtEJ.

Application flied May 31,

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be-it known that l, Josnru BERGER, a citizen of the, l mited States, residing at lltice. in the county of Oneida, State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lhreed(lontrolling .dechenisins for Sewin Machines, of which the following! is tt description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference merited thereon.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in thread controllers for sewing machines and more particularly to e sewing machine for forming triple interconnected covering stitches wherein the needle thread loops are connected (Lt one face of the tiebric by it looper thread and at the other face of the fabric by a cross thread.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type with a thread controlling mechanism wherein certain of the threads are positively pulled from the supply and the working slack so taken care of that the resulting seam is substantially uniform tl'll'OlljIllOUtits entire extent.

A further object oi; the invention is to provide a tlirezid controlling mechanism with devices for relieving the stitching threads from undue strain so to allow the cloth to feed easier and also to increase the elasticity of the covering seam.

A still turther objectot' the inventiorr'is to provide it thread controllin;- mechanism for a machine of the above type wherein the cross thread is pulled from the supply in measured zunouuts preferably when the needles are at the lower ends of their strokes so that the cross thread relieved from on due strain 11nd, therefore, more uniformly laid about the needle thread loops.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type having needles with their eyes at dii'h rent heights, with a thread controlling mocha uisin for supplying thread to the needles in amounts corrcspomlingr to the setting of their cvcs so that said needles may more to the lower ends of their strokes without plac in; the threads uudcr unduestrain, which thread controlling; devices also operate to l VJSlllYtl Y take up some oi the slack of the needle threads of the needles having their eves moving to the greater distance below the fabric so as to insure the forming of loops. in the needle threads for the looper to enter which sulliciently small whereby they can be controlled.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinetter more "fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of the invention Figure 1 is at front View of a sewing chine embodying any improvements with the needles at the upper ends of their strokes;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing the needles at the lower ends of their strokes;

Fig. 3 is similar view but showing the needles as having slightly retracted and thrown out their respective loops for the looper to enter;

Fig. 4L- is a view in top plan of e port-ion of the machine;

Fig. is an enlarged View of the head of the machine showing the work support and presser foot in section and with the needles at the upper ends of their strokes;

Fig. 6 is tL SlIIIllQX' view, but showing the ncedles'et the-lower ends of their strokes;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the overhanging: arm and point be tween the pull-oli' and the thread nippers;

Fi gr. 8 is a perspective view of the relees iug member for the nippers, the bracket for supporting the same. and the guide eyes for the cross thread:

hip. fl is a perspective view of the bracket carried by the needle arm which operates to actuate the member for releasing; the nippers;

Fig. '10 is a perspective view with parts separated showing the tension tor the needle threads at the lower end of the needle bar and the eye carried by the needle bar for the cross thread;

Fig. '11 is a perspective view cl a portion ot the thread controlling devices;

Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation and showing more or loss diegrannnnticelly a modified form ot the thread controller which permits the amount of thread pulled oft for the respective needles to be independently varied Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, but showing the thread arm at the other end oi the stroke; and

Fig. M- is a perspective view of sore. ot

the parts of theithread controlling mechauses.

The invention is directed broadly to a thread controlling" mechanism for a sewing machine, which sewing machine is preferably provided with three needles with which a single looper cooperates beneath the fabric and with which a. single cross thread laying mechanism operates above the fabric. In a machine of this type, it is desirable to place the noodles with their eyes at different heights, the needle with its eye set at the lowest point being at the left hand as viewed from the front of the machine when the looper moves into the thread loops from right to left, and the intermediate needle has its eye set a litle higher than the eye of the left hand needle and a little lower than the eye of the right hand needle.

Nipper springs are provided for the needle threads which are actuated to clamp and hold the threads from movement while the needles are passing through the lower portions of their reciprocations. There is also provided a pull-ofi located between the needles and the tensions which operates when the nippers are closed to pull thread from the supply, and these pull-offs are so constructed that a greater amount of thread is pulled off thereby for the left hand needle than is pulled off by the pull-otl' for the right hand needle While the amount of thread pulled off for the intermediate needle is slightly less than that pulled oil" for the left hand needle, and greater than that pulled off for the right hand needle. When the needles move to the upper ends of their strokes and the nippers are open, this slack,

thread is pulled through the nippers and this enables the needles to move to the upper end of their strokes without putting the threads under undue strain and permits an easy teedii a; ot' the fabric and increases the o the seam. More thread is pulled the left. hand needle, because the this needle moves great distance beneath the fabric and, therefore, more working slack is required for this needle. The right hand needle on its up stroke pulls thread through the tension from the supply; this is desirable for the reason that tho loopcr thread and the cross thread are pulled, against the right hand needle thread and it should be under slight tension in order to properly make a uniform seam.

Devices are also provided between the nippers and the thread eyes on the needle bar for the left hand needle thread and the thread of the center needle which operate onthe first part of thel upward movement of the needles to take up some of the slack in the needle threads, and these devices are so arranged that the greater amount of slack is taken up in the left hand needle than the center needle. By this arrangement, the needle threadloops thrown out by the left hand needle and the center needle are re duced in size so that they are in range of control. The righthand needle loop is relatively small and is first entered by the looper and no means is necessary for taking up tilt slack. Means is also provided for pulling! thread from the supply for the cross thread in measured amounts corresponding; to the amount of thread consumed by the scam, and pull-up devices are also provided for polling up this cross thread so as today the thread in measured amounts and thus provide a covering seam of uniform width on the right or taco side of the goods.

deferring more in detail to the drawings, I have shown my invention as embodied in a sewing machine consisting of a supporting bed. 1 carrying a standard 2 in which is mounted a main shaft 3. Suitably mounter on the standard 2 is an overhanging arm l in which a needle bar 5 rcciprocates. Said needle bar is reciprocatcd by a needle lever (i pivoted at 7 to the overhanging arm 4. and oscillated by an eccentric strap 8 cooperating with an. actuating device from the main shaft 3. This needle bar 5 carries three needles 910ll. Cooperating with the needles beneath the work support is a thread carrying looper 12.

The work support, indicated at 13 in the drawings. is in the term of an arm which projects horizontally and rcarwardly from a standard 14 carried in turn by a laterally projecting arm 15 mounted on the bed 1. The looper is oscillated and moved laterally by a suitable train of n'iechanism located. in the arm 13, standard 14, arm 1:": and main standard 2. The material fed across the work support means of a feed dog 16. The material is held on the Work support by means of a presscr foot 17. These parts are of the usual construction and it 7 is not thought that further description thereof is necessary.

F or the purpose of description, the needle 11 will bo'rcfcrred to as the left hand needle. as it is at the left as viewed by the operator, while the needle 9 will be referred to as the right hand needle, and the needle 10 as the center needle. It is understood, at course, that the looper 12 cooperates with all three needles, entering first the needle thread loop of the right hand needle, then the needle thread loop of the center needle, and then the needle thread loop of the left hand needle. It will be noted from Figs. '1, 5, and 6 that the eye 18 of the left hand needle is set at a different height than the eye 19 of the right hand needle, While the eye 20 ot the center needle is still at another height, the eye of the left hand needle being the lowest and will move the c reatcst dis- Lance beneath the fabric. The eye of the fori'ns the cross thread into a loop, and then nannies i right hand needle will move thefl east distance beneath the tabric.

The needle threads for therneedles 9, l and 11 are indicated, respectively, at a, b.

and o. lhese needle threads pass from the supply throu -h suitable tensions 21, thence through suita; le guide eyes in a supporting bracket 22. The needle threads then pass through suitable eyes in an arm 23, and thence through nippers 24', one for each thread. The threads 0 and b of the left hand needle and center needle, respectively, then pass through a light tension 25, While the needle thread a does not pass through this tension but through an eye 27 carried by an arm 26. The three needle threads then pass through eyes in. an arm 28 secured to the upper end of the needle bar The needle threads then pass down along side of the needle, bar underneath a tension plate 29 through the slot in the needle holder, and then to the eyes o1'r the needles.

The looper thread is indicated at Z in the drawings. This looper thread passes from the supply through a tension 30, thence underneath the guide plate 31 to a, thread con trolling mechanism 32, and thence through the arm to a thread guiding tube 33 and through suitable guides to the loo er. The cross thread for connecting the neer le thread loops on the upper surface of the fabric is indicated at d. This cross thread is passed from the supply through a suitable tension 3%, thence to an eye 35 in an arm 36, thence to an eye 37 in said. arm, and then through one of the nippers 24; to a guide eye 38 and then through a guide eye 39 carried by the needle bar to a. guide eye 40, and to the cross thread laying :ineehanisni which. is herein shown in the form of a hook all which en-- gages the cross thread and forms it into a loop for the left hand. needle to enter.

The pz'irticular form of cross thread laying mechanism is immaterial and forms no part of the present invention except in the general combination of the parts. This cross thread laying mechanism preferably inoludes, however, a thread book which releases the loop, and a cooperating thread linger whit-h engages one strand of the cross thread and carries it rearwardly so as to place it. properly for the needles to pass, so that the cross thread will extend back and forth across the seam encircling the needle thread loop first at one side of the seam and then at the other side of the seam, and all of the needle thread loops in the outer rows will be encircled.

The thread nippers are controlled by a pivoted lever 42 whioh is provided with a yoke having upwardly extending .arms 4l3-43 which are adapted to engage the head 44 of the rod upon which the nipper disks are placed, and when i'uoi'ed toward the operator, as viewed llllFlg. 4, said rod is moved so as to conipres's sprmg 4:5 and re- I lease tho.n1pper disks from their grip upon the threads, and tliusjthe th'riids arepermitted to run free through the nippers. T his pivoted lever 42' is operated by "a plate 46 adjustably carried by a bracket 47 which isl secured to the needle lever 6 by means of a ser'hw 48. This adjustable. plate l6 engages a wedge-shaped member 49 carried at the lower end of the lever 12.

It Will be apparent from the drawings that. when the needle lever is raised and the needles are at the upper ends of their strokes, this plate 1-6 will engage the wedge-shaped member 49 and swing the lever 42 so as to pull forward on the rod carrying the nippers, compressing the spring 45 and releasing the nippers from tension so that the threads run free. When the needle lever is at the lower end of its stroke, the lever 42 'Will be released and the nippers through the action of the spring 45. will be caused to grip the three needle threads and the cross thread and hold the same from movement, These nippers for the needle threads per se form no part of the present invention, and it is obvious that other forms of nippers may be used, the essential feature being" that the threads shall be clamped and held from movement while the needles are v passing through the lower portions of their strokes and the threads shall be released and free when the needles are passing through the upper portions of their strokes.

As above noted, the three needle threads pass through suitable eyes formed in the arm23. This arm 23 extends through a lug 50 carriedby thebraeket 47 and is held in adjustable positions therein by means of a set-screw 51. The arm 23 will, therefore, move up and downwith the needle lever and will move toward and from a st alight line connecting the nippeis with the guide eyes in the bracket 22. Thusthe arm 23 will pull on the needle threads and will pull the thread through the tensions from the supply as said arm operates to pull on the threads when they are clamped by the'nippers. It will be noted that the eye 52 at the outer end of the arm 23, and through which the needle thread 0 passes, is higher than the eye through which the needle thread Z) passes, and this-eyes? is also higher than the eye 54 through which the needle thread (1 passes.

By this arrangement of the eyes 52, and 54, ll pull off more of the needle thread 0 than the needle thread I), and also more of the needle thread 6 than the needle thread a. The reason for pulling off these difierent amounts in the three needle threads is because o1 the setting of the eyes of the needles at different heights, as above described; the eye or". the lefthand needle passing a greater distance beneath the fabric requires more thread than either of the other needles wherein the eyes pass a less distance b'eneath the fabric, without putting the thread under undue strain which might cause the needle to cut through or break the thread. The thread which is pulled off by this rod 23, which I shall refer to as constituting a pull-off for the needle threads, is carried through the nippers when the nippers are open by the upward movement of the needle bar and the looper taking the threads and, of course, will be iven up to the needles on the next descent of the needle .bar.

lVhen the needles start to rise, they throw out their needle thread loops for the loop ers to enter in the well-known manner, and it will be obvious that the left hand needle, whose eye moves to a greater distance beneath the fabric, would naturally form a larger needle thread loop. If the needle thread loop is very large, it becomes uncontrollable, thereby causing the looper to skip the loop and thus skip a stitch. In

order to prevent this undue enlargement of the needle thread loops of the left hand and 7 center needles, I have provided the tension device 25.

This tension device consists of a plate.

mounted on a screw carried by a bracket 56 which in turn is mounted on an arm 57 carried by a supporting member 58 which in turn is secured to the needle lever 6 by screws 5959. Said arm 57 is clamped in the member 58 by a set-screw GO. A suitable spring encircles the screw 55 and causes the plate to yieldingly clamp the threads 0 and 7) against the bracket arm 56. As the needle lever oscillates, rod 57 will be moved toward and from the needle bar and as it moves toward and from the needle bar, the angular positionof the tension and also the rod 57 relative to the vertical. or the axis of the needle bar will be changed. This movement of the tension away from the needle bar causes the needle threads 0 and Z) to be pulled up, and this reduces the needle thread loops thrown out by the needles 11 and 10 so that they may be well within control. In view of the fact that the angular position ofthe rod 57 changes,

there will be. more slack taken up in the needle thread 0 than in the needle thread I). This is desirable for the reason that theeye of the center needle does not move so far beneath the fabric as the eye of the left hand needle and, of course, it is not desirable to take up so much of the thread of the center needle as is taken up for the thread of the left hand needle. The needle thread a, as above noted, passes through the eye 27 in the 26. This arm 26 is also carried by the supporting member 58 and is held thereon by a set-screw 61. The eye 27 will marries w! move up and down with the needle bar and assist in taking care of the slack, but inasmuch as the thread a moves freely through the eye -27, the needle thread a will not be drawn back on the first part of the upward movement of the needles. It is not neces sary, nor desirable, to take up the needle thread loop of the right hand needle; the loop of this needle thread will take care of itself on account of the point of the looper getting into it very early in its forward movement.

As the needle bar reaches the upper end of its stroke, the slack pulled off from the supply by the pull-elf will be drawn through the nippers, a sullicient slackbeing given to the needle threads 0 and I) so that there is little or no strain on the fabric and this allows the fabric to feed through freely and also increases the elasticity of the stitches being formed.- The slack in the needle thread 0-, however, is all consumed before the needle bar reaches the upper end of its stroke, and a certain amount of thread will be pulled through the'tension fromthe supplv by the upward movement of the needle bar for this needle thread a. This puts the needle thread a under tension which is very desirable forthe reason that the looper in moving to the forward end of the stroke, which it reaches approxt mately at the time. the needle bar reaches theupper end of its stroke, draws the looper thread running to the previous stitch against the right hand needle thread loop. The cross thread laying hook also draws the cross thread running to the previous stitch against the right hand needle thread, and in order tokeep the seam uniform, it is desirable to have this needle thread a under slight tension at this time. This is accomplished, by reason of the fact that the pullofl, owing to the setting of the eyes, does not pull olf quite enough thread for the right hand needle so that the needle bar pulls off the rest of the thread necessary 'for this right hand needle.

The cross thread d, as above noted, passes through thread eyes 35 and 37 in the arm 36. This arm 36 is secured by a set-screw 62 to a sleeve 63 which-is formed as part of a bracket 64 fixed to'the overhanging arm 4- by screws 65-65. The arm 23,0seillates back and forth between the eyes 35 and 37 and will engage the cross thread and'pull a measured amount of cross thread from the supply. This amount may be varied by varying the position of the eyes. 35 and 37 through the shifting of the arm db back andan I Leaf/glee l 1 l eeui'ecl amount 075 thread is given up 10 the Q1'OSE5.lll] arid ageing hook so that the p be lei'i'necl. Without exerting undue Slllfllu ef lhe e'mss thread on the previously "on"- Al. This again reduces the k. mply tl'ireugh the tension and. hie .uses cross thi'ead to {hug en the new. dreads and results in a. mere less i'ien-m'iifornl WlLlllll {if cross stitches, but by I improved. LlU'QiLCl controlling; mechanism, Wh ii them ie a measured amount of CIQSS l pullezl from the supply midgiven up sleek to the cross thread laying; men-hm 'lhe iig'gl'il amount f the Jplieil. without pulling m' w tlllPlll and thee cross l mre; l \i' T i the drmhwzu'cl movement 0; e 39 on the neerlle bar, the slack in the-cross thread w'll "Cll up anti the (E085 thread will be Q s erouncl hhe needles, the thread :il; ihis time by the nippei's, incl (if the 0 s?) threads when id around the needles further inhi form width of cross iil'n'emjl stitch. mil 1- of the right hand needle en l on the descent oi the needles,

me right hzinll thmzul umler f lilulil just before the needle reaches; eml mj' il's stroke, and Ellie aids in :guiellly throwing cut of the needle (l 100p en the upper movement of the 'lhis is e Well-known feature in the iei'zhs we pull; 0f the present in ea in in. en

aymg

bill? above deseripfiirm: The mechanism operates to "0 l the supply foxehe lhree different amounts, according e3 ihe eyes of the neehles. and l 30. from lLhe supply is so that as they puss: 1' re will he sulliei et JET l witheut undue ilu'emis 91h} has he hreahing l a first pm'i; of le upward movement (lles,. 2 perm of lhe tlu-eecl m ehe leli hand needle needle taken up s0 as ho vellum ml" the neerlle lhrea l loops (ll-2w. these needles and keep the 1e 101 550 as to El. aid the skippihgx f the loops hy ihe loeper; As the needles reach the it: per ends of their S IOlUZS, lh .sleek pulled ell by the pull-off is pulled ihlreugh the s min on J therein".

All! (1 311 ell for the l'espeetive needles.

ml may epeezilzien of the device is tlmugl'ili.

nippers and the amomih of sleek pillledl for the Right hand needle is slighlaly less than hec 'esery for the Working SlZZ'OlKQ elf 'lzhe right hand needle so that the needle thread. of this right hand needle will be placed. under tension when the needle her reaches the upper end of its stmheQ-Which is very desirable eohditieu owing to the feet the; the mass thread. and the leeper thr w are at this time neeessz. wily drawn egeihe; the ixhrewi. 01'? the i-ighl; haml neeclle.

it times it be desirable he very he'- alependently the aineunt 055. thread pulled In Figs. 3.2 and 13 of the eltc'ewhzigs, I have shewn e meclifiecl form. of struclgmfe which permits this t0 ee accomplished. The threads a, Z) and. 0 p 3 from the supply 'ih'reugh independen eecl eyes 'Z'O in the red 70., This red is a. substimte fer the t red slmwn ether figures of the drawings and they from merely in. he. end of the real being Lemuel instead. 01: inch: e. .y. The thread 0 is then lecl "he U 1- 71; the thread 6 he e hhreei finger hi l eml the thread a lo a thread finger $3. The.

Y precisely described. above in. cennechion with the tl' read arm 23, the ehly clifierehce being that the thread fingers may be edjusted so to vary the poeiizieh 0f the thread eyes carried thereby, and this'e. vary the extent of hmvement of the 2.1711 "('0 relative l'hereto zinli in mm very the amount of thread pulled of? for the re epeccive needles. W lie I have stated that the modified form of device eperehes precisely as described in. eenneelien with'lihe thread arm 23, there is, however this slight clil'lerenee: The amount of thread pulled oil by the thread eye 'ZO at llhe'ehcl m the arm 70 in the modified; form differs .li'om the ammint of 'fihreadl pulled 01'? for the ether iihz ead; in this arm by .tfibLSOZl e35 the :hieelzha't the thread fingers 71, 72 and 73 we set so to extend different (hem. ees worn the euppeirlihg exlsehsioh H, and ii; is by W 1. these fililgere thaw emounts pulled oil of the several threads are dillew em. and by adjusting ifihe the ameunts may he iiirlepencl a "will also be nmieci 'hiil; the im 'mevetl thl'eml controlling mechanism pulls measured amount of thread for the cross thread laying hook which is given thereto when it moves forward so that the cross thread is comparatively free from undue strain as well as the needle thread of the left hand needle and the center needle at the time when the feed takes place, and this permits very easy feeding of the fabric without straining the threads and results in a very elastic covering seam. The thread eyes for the cross thread are so related to each other as to take up the slack in the cross thread, drawing it snugly about the needles when the needles are at the lower ends of their strokes and this results in a cross stitch of uniform width.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new is l. The combination with a covering stitching mechanism including a plurality of needles having the eyes thereof set at different heights, and a threaded looper cooperating with said needles at one face of the fabric being stitched, of a thread controlling mechanism including means for pulling dilferent amounts of the respective needle threads "rom the supply proportionate to the distance between the eyes of the respective needles and the fabric, and means operating upon the thread of the needle having the lowest set eye for taking up thread on [he first part of the upward movement of the needle to reduce the size of the needle thread loop thrown out for the looper to enter.

The combination with a covering stitching mechahism, including a plurality of needles having the eyes thereof set at different heights, a threaded looper cooperating with said needles at one face of the fabric being stitched, and a cross thread laying mechanism cooperating with said needles at the other face of the fabric, of a thread controlling mechanism including means for pulling different amounts of the respective needle threads from the supply proportionate to the distances between the eyes of the respective needles and the fabric, and means operating upon the thread of th needle having the lowest sot eye for taking up thread on the first part of the upward movement of the needle to reduce the size of the needle thread loop thrown out for the looper to enter,

3. The combination with a -covering stitching mechanism, including a plurality of needles having the eyes thereof set at dill'ercut heights, a threaded looper cooperating with said needles at one face of the fabric being stitched, and a cross thread accrues laying mechanism cooperating with said needles at the other face of the fabric, and a thread controlling mechanism. including tension devices, thread nippers, and pull-oil means operating upon the needle threads be tween the tensions and nippers for pulling different amounts of the respective needle threads through the tensions when the nip- -pers are closed proportionate to the disthe other face of the fabric, and a thread controlling mechanism including tension devices, thread nippers, pull-elf means operating upon the needle threads between the tensions and nippers for pulling different amounts of the respective needle threads through the tensions when'the nippe'ls are closed proportionate to the distanres be tween the eyes of the respective needles and the fabric; and means operatingmpen the needles having the loweslii'set can and between the eyes and the nippers for; taking up the threads on the first part ofthe upward movement of said needles to reduce the size of the needle thread loops thrown out thereby for the looper to enter.

5. The combination with a work support and covering stitching mechanism including three needles ha ving the eyes thereof set in a line inclined relative to the plane of the work support, a threaded looper arranged to enter first the thread loop of the needle having its eye set the highest, subsequently the thread loop of the center needle, and

then the thread loop of the other needle, a 1

cross thread laying mechanism, and a thread controlling ll'lQChZlDlSll'l including means for pulling different amounts of the respective needle threads from the supply proportion ate to the distances between the eyes of the respective needles and the fabric, and means operating upon the thread of the needle having the lowest set eye for taking up the thread on the first part of the upward movement of the needle to reduce the size of the needle thread loop thrown out for the looper to enter.

6. The combination with a work support and covering stitching mechanism including three needles having the eyes thereof set in a line inclined relative to the plane of the work support, a threaded looper arranged to enter first the thread loop of the needle having its eye set the highest, subsequently the thread loop of the center needle, and then the thread loop of the other needle, a cross thread laying mechanism, and a thread nine-lee controlling mechanism including means for pulling different amounts of the respective needle threads from the supply PIOIJUl'ilOlh etc to the distancesbetween the eyes of therespective needles and the fabric, and means operating upon the threads ot' the needles having the lowest set eyes for taking up the threads thereof on the first port of the lipvverd movement of the needles to reduce the size oi the-needle thread loops thrown out for the looper to enter.

7. The combination with i work support and covering stitching mechanism including three needles having the eyes thereof set in a line inclined relative to the plane oi? the work support, a threaded looper arranged to enter first the'thread loop of the needle having its eye set the highest, subsequently the thread loop oi. the center needle, and then the thread loop of the other needle, cross thread laying mechanism, and vibrating means operating upon the threads of the needle having the lowest set eye and the center needle independent of the thread-of the needle having the eye set highest for taking up the threads of the needle having the lowest set eye and the center needle on the lirst part of the upward movement of the needles to reduce the size of the needle thread loops thrown out by the needle neving the lowest set eye and the center needle for the looper toenter.

8. The combination with a Work support and coveringstitching mechanism including three needles having the eyes thereof set in a line inclined relative to the plane oi? the Work sup ort, a threaded looper arranged to enter irst the thread loop of the needle homing its eye set the highest, subsequently the thread loop of the center needle, and then the thread loop of the other needle, cross thread laying mechanism, and vihrsting means operatingupon the threads of the needle having the lowest set eye and the center needle for taking up the threads thereof on thefirst part of the upward movement of the needles to reduce the size.

of the needle thread loops thrown out by the needle having the lowest set eye and the center needle for the looper to enter, said means for taking up the threads being constructed so to take up more threadt'or the needle of the lowest set eye than for the center needle.

9. The combination with covering stitching mechanism including three needles with their eyes set in a'line inclined to the path of re iprocation of the needles, a needle lever for reciprocating the needles, means cznrried by the needle lever for engaging the needle threads for pulling thread from the supply proportionateto the distance be tween the eyes of the needles and the fabric, and means carried by the needle lever for engaging the thread of the needle havingthe lowest sci eye and the thread of theecnter needle and operating tnlre up the needle threads on the first part oi the up Word movement of the needle. lever in dil terent e-monnts'propoz note to the distnnce "it het'ween the eyes oi? the needles tho 'i sh'ric, y

id. The combination of covering stitchin mechanism in ing s plurnlity of needles having their e es set in :1 line inclined to to the path of reciprocation of the needles, 9, needle her carrying said needles, needle lever for reciprocating said en, thread nip pers through which the needle threeds p means actuated by the needle lever for 1 leasing the nipp e/rs when the needles ere at the upper ends their strokes tension (in-- vices through "which the threads pets, a pull otl' srm carried by the needle lever and located between the thrend nippers and the 85 supply, said ernrlm'ving e sepnrete for each thread, threed guides essociated with said pull-off arm, snid ey and. thread guides being at different distances from each other and engaging the thread so that :1 greater amount of thread is pulled ed for the needle hsving its eye set in the lowest position, a amount 01 threed for the center needle, end. it less amount of thread for the needle having its eye set hi -heist, es thread cerrying looper adopted to enter first the thrend loop of the needle with the highest set eye, and then the other thread loops of the needles. s

11. The combination of covering st'tching no mechanism including o.- plnrslity of needles having their eyes set in at line inclined to the path of reciprocation of the needles, n needle her carrying said needles, n. needle lever for reciprocating seiid her, thread. nip loo pers through which the needle thrends pass, means actuated by the needle lever leasing the nippers Whcnthe needles are at the upper ends of their strokes, tension de vices through which the threads pass, it pull 1116 effsrm carried by the needle lever and linv ing it sennrate eye for each thread, thresd guides associated, with said pull-bit" arm, said eyes nnd thrend uides being set'sit dill'erent .distnnces from each other and engge ing the thread. so that n grester amount or thread. is pulled for th' ieedle heving eye set in the lowest position, e. less amount of thread for the center needle, end 3, less amount of read tor the needle having its $540 .eye set his; e. thread carrying loops-r adapted toenter thread loop of the needle with the highest set eye, and then the other thread loops oil the needlesyen arm osrried by the needle lever between the nip- 3% pers and the needle her, in tension plate oer riedhy the arm and adapted to engage the thread of the needle with the lowest set eye and the thread of the center needle, ssid tension .plste Peeing edspted to swing" with 1% the needle lever and take up the needle threads on the first part of the upward movement of the needles so as to reduce the size of thread loops thrown out for the looperto enter.

12. The combination of covering stitching mechanism including a plurality of needles, having their eyes set in a line inclined to the path of reciprocation of the needles. needle bar carrying said needles, a nee leverl'or reciprocatini; said bar, thread nip pers through which the needle threads means actuated by the needle lever for releasin -the nippers when the needles are at the upper ends of their strokes, tension devices through which the threads pass, a pull-oil arm carried by the needle lever and having a sepa rate eye for each thread, thread .Q'uides associated with said pull-off arm, said ejvl-s and thread guides being set at ditl'erent distances from each other and engracing the thread so that-a greater amount of thread pulled ott' tor the needle havmg its eye set in the lowest position. a less .an'iount ot' thread for the center needle. and a".le.ss+ amount of thread for the needle havins: its eye set highest. a thread carrying looper adapted to enter first the thread loop of the needle with the highest set eye, and then the othenthread loops of the needles, said pull-off being so proportionated that the amount of thread pulled oft for the needle with the lowest set eye and tliecenter needle sufficient to allow the needles to move to the upper ends of their strokes Without putting the threads under tension while the thread supply to the needle with the eye set high is iusullicient for the needle to move to the upper end of its stroke so that the memes needle bar pulls oil thread from the supply for said needle and thus places said thread under tension. 7

13. The combination with covering stitching mechanism including a plurality of needles,.complemental stitch forming mechanism cooperating with the needles at one face of the fabric and a. cross thread laying mechanisn'i cooperating with the needles at the other face of the fabric, of a thread nipper for the cross thread adapted to grip the thread when the needles are at the lower ends of their strokes. a tension device for the cross thread. means operating upon the cross thread between the tension and the nippers for pulling a measured amount of cross thread from the supply, and means for taking up the cross thread and drawing the same around the needles when the needle needles are in the fabric.

ll. The combination with covering stitching: mechanism including a plurality of needles having the eyes thereof set at ditlerent heights. a threaded looper cooperating with said needles at one face of the fabric being stitched. a cross thread laying mechanism cooperating with said needles at the other face ot the fabric, of a thread controlling mechanism including means for pullingditlerent amounts of the respective needle threads from the supply proportion.- ate to the distances between the eyes of the respective needles and the fabric, and means wherein: the amount of thread pulled off for the respective needles may be independently varied.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

JOSEPH BERGER. 

